Floor model space heater

ABSTRACT

A floor model space heater intended for use in heating air by coming in direct contact therewith consisting of a frame supporting three hollow open ended cylindrical tubes extending in stacked vertically spaced apart positions on the frame, one tube above another, the lower tube having a combustion chamber at the inlet end thereof into which is inserted a nozzle disposed axially thereof and adapted for injecting fuel to be ignited into the combustion chamber, the opposite end of the bottom tube connected to the adjacent end of the middle tube with the opposite end of the middle tube connected to the adjacent end of the top tube so as to direct the burning gases from the combustion chamber through the tubes to be discharged from the outlet end of the top tube which may be connected to a chimney or the like for proper disposition of the burned gases.

1 States Patent 1 Medlock 1 FLOOR MODEL SPACE HEATER [76] Inventor: Dan Medlock, 1 13 Sycamore St.,

Richmond, Ky. 40422 [22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 396,383

[52] 11.5. C1. 126/91 A, 126/85 R, 285/181 [51] llnt. Cl. F24c 3/02 [58] Field of Search.... 126/91 R, 91 A, 85 R, 85 B,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,126,873 2/1915 Sample 01 a1. 126/116 R 1,715.007 5/1929 Reuss 126/116 R 2,504,315 4/1950 Fevcrfile 126/116 R 2,603,208 7/1952 Bcauchamp 126/116 R 2,731,009 l/1956 Pocrass ct al i 126/85 R 2,823,703 2/1958 Nusser, Jr. 285/181 3.181.525 5/1965 McKann 126/91 R 1 Feb. 18, 1975 Primary ExaminerCarro1l B. Dority, Jr. Assistant Examiner-William E. Tapolcai, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A floor model space heater intended for use in heating air by coming in direct contact therewith consisting of a frame supporting three hollow open ended cylindrical tubes extending in stacked vertically spaced apart positions on the frame, one tube above another, the lower tube having a combustion chamber at the inlet end thereof into which is inserted a nozzle disposed axially thereof and adapted for injecting fuel to be ignited into the combustion chamber, the opposite end of the bottom tube connected to the adjacent end of the middle tube with the opposite end of the middle tube connected to the adjacent end of the top tube so as to direct the burning gases from the combustion chamber through the tubes to be discharged from the outlet end of the top tube which may be connected to a chimney or the like for proper disposition of the burned gases.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures FLOOR MODEL SPACE HEATER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to heaters and more particularly to a novel and improved floor model space heater adapted to directly heat air by direct contact with the walls of the combustion tube and fire tubes forming the heater in an efficient and rapid manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art 7 It has been known in the prior art to provide furnaces or the like in which intermediate heating mediums, such as steam or water, are provided to contact the walls of the combustion chamber or to pass through the combustion chamber in a manner to heat the water, after which the water is used for transmission of the heat. Thus, heat is first transferred to the water and then retransfered to the air by radiation, such as by radiators and the like, with the efficiency of such units being quite low due to the heat absorbed by the material of the combustion chamber, the loss of heat in the transferring to and from the heat carrying medium, and the like.

To solve the difficulties associated with such furnaces, and when only a small confined area is to be heated, such as a single room, garage, or the like, there are provided space heaters, either free standing on the floor or mounted to a wall, and which are provided with a unitary hollow combustion and heating chamber about which air passes to receive heat from the chamber to accomplish the heating of the space about the heater. Such space heaters, while performing a satisfactory heating job, require a lengthy heat up period of time to reach maximum efficiency, and then pose only very limited exposed surfaces for contacting the surrounding air to heat the same. Further, such heaters are normally relatively expensive to manufacture and require expensive maintenance when it becomes necessary to replace the heating chamber or the like due to corrosion, rust, heat failure, or any other of the problems associated with such type of heating devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomes all of the foregoing deficiencies and advantages of presently available heating devices by providing a novel heating device wherein the combustion tube and fire tubes are formed of the same sheet metal material with there being required no special refractory mate rial or the like within the combustion chamber formed within the combustion tube, and providing maximum exposed radiation surfaces to quickly and efficiently heat the surrounding air.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a floor model space heater wherein the air is heated by direct contact with the walls of the combustion tube and fire tubes in a rapid and efficient manner.

A further feature of the present invention provides a floor model space heater wherein the combustion tube and fire tubes are interconnected in a manner permitting maximum radiation of heat from their respective exterior surfaces so that almost immediate heat is provided to the surrounding area upon energization of the heater.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a floor model space heater which is assembled of a plurality of identical components permitting rapid in- Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a floor model space heater having the combustion tube and interconnected fire tubes each manufactured of sheet metal and disposed in a manner to have the heated gases travel therethrough with the tubes radiating an immense amount of heat therefrom without any shortening or adverse affect on the sheet metal tubes.

The provision of a floor model space heater, such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the stated advantages, constitutes the principal features of the present invention. The provision of a space heater which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; one which is rugged and durable and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of usage with a minimum of maintenance and repair; one which is manufactured almost completely out of sheet metal and is adapted to heat air directly upon contact with the heated sheet metal; one which operates at a high efficiency and in a rapid manner with the heat of combustion being almost completely transferred to the surrounding air prior to the discharge of the burnt gases from the heater; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a floor model space heater constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the space heater; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded front elevational view of the combustion chamber portion of the combustion tube and the burner nozzle associated therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated a preferred form of a floor model space heater embodying the principles of the present invention and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, it being noted that the heater construction is practically completely formed from sheet metal except where angle irons and channel structures are necessary for strength, such as in the supporting frame 11.

The supporting frame 11 includes a weighted horizontal rectangularly shaped base 21 having a bottom surface 22 adapted to rest on the floor or ground 25, and a top surface 23 disposed vertically above the bottom surface and extending parallel thereto, with a pair of longitudinally spaced and aligned standards 26 each having their adjacent end 27 connected to the top surface 23 with the standards projecting vertically upwards perpendicular to the base 21 to terminate in free ends 28.

Disposed above the base 21 and mounted to the standards 26 by wires 30 is an elongated hollow open ended cylindrical combustion tube 31 having an inlet end 32 and an outlet end 33, the tube consisting of a sheet metal material rolled into tubular form with the meeting edges thereofjoined together either by butt welding or bent over each other to form a seam. The portion of the tubing adjacent inlet end 32 defines a combustion chamber 34 which is adapted to receive centrally thereof a burner nozzle 41 having a fuel discharge port 42 disposed inwardly of the combustion chamber axially therewith to define thereabout an anular combustion air inlet passageway between the exterior surface of the nozzel and the interior side wall surfaces of the combustion chamber, the nozzle being of a hollow elongated tube extending axially from the fuel discharge port to terminate at a fuel inlet port 43. The inlet port 43 is connected to an outlet end 44 of a fuel flow control valve 45 having an inlet end 46 connected by a tube 47 to a suitable source of fuel, such as natural gas or the like, the control valve 45 mounted on one end of an L-shaped bracket 48 having the opposite end folded to the adjacent vertical standard 26 by a bolt 49 or the like.

Positioned in vertical alignment above the combustion tube 31 and extending horizontally relative thereto are a pair of elongated hollow open ended cylindrical fire tubes 51 and 61 each mounted to standards 26 by sets of wires 30 in the same manner as the mounting of the combustion tube 31, with fire tube 51 having an inlet end 52 disposed vertically above the outlet end 33 of the combustion tube, and an outlet end 53 disposed vertically above the inlet 32 of the combustion tube. The fire tube 61 having an inlet end 62 disposed vertically above the outlet end 53 offire tube 51, and having an outlet end 63 disposed vertically above the inlet end 52 of fire tube 51.

A hollow concavely curved sheet metal tube 71 having ends 72 and 73 interconnect the combustion tube outlet 33 to the fire tube 51 inlet end 52, with a concavely formed hollow sheet metal tube 74 having ends 75 and 76 connect the outlet end 53 of fire tube 51 with the inlet end 62 of fire tube 61, the outlet end 63 of fire tube 61 connected by a sheet metal ninety degree elbow 81 to the bottom end 82 of a gas draft diverter 83 of a conventional type construction and having a top portion thereof adapted to be connected to a chimney or other normally used apparatus for safely discharging the burnt gasses and fumes thereof exteriorly of the space, such as the room or garage, being heated.

In operation, the control valve 45 is open permitting gas to flow in the direction of arrow 85 through nozzle 41 to be discharged from the nozzle discharge port 42 into the combustion chamber 34 where it is ignited in any conventional manner, such as by a pilot light, electric ignition, a match or glowing amber inserted into the combustion chamber, or the like, with the air required for combustion being drawn into the combustion chamber through the anular combustion air inlet passage defined about the nozzle at inlet 32, the burning gases and heat therefrom being directed through the combustion tube 31, tube 71, fire tube 51, tube 74, fire tube 61, elbow 81, and diverter 83 after which the same are discharged to the atmosphere exterior of the room being heated by the heater, this flow path of gases being as shown by the arrows in the drawings starting with arrow adjacent inlet 32 and ending with arrow 86 adjacent the end of the diverter 83. I

From FIG. 2 it is to be noted that the heater 10 is of a construction readily adapted to be placed adjacent a vertical surface 88, such as a wall of the room or the like, in order to occupy an out of the way location in the room being heated.

The fire tubes 51 and 61 are formed in the same manner as the combustion tube 31 as to consisting of sheet metal material rolled into tubular form with the meeting edges thereof joined together either by butt welding or bent over each other to form a seam, with it being understood that in the preferred embodiment the combustion tube 31 and fire tubes 51 and 61 are each identical and are interchangeable with each other. Further, the tubes 71, 74 and 81 are also formed of sheet metal which may be of a rigid or flexible construction, and which may consist of a pair of conventional sheet metal elbows interconnected by a short length of sheet metal tubing or the like to form the respective overall tubing structures, this all being as envisioned within the scope of the present invention.

The use of sheet metal for the manufacturing of the heater provides for an economical construction with the exterior surfaces of the tubes exposing to the surrounding atmosphere a large radiating surface to transmit and radiate into the surrounding air an enormous quantity of heat from the tubes during the operation of the heater. The sheet metal tubes present an almost glowing hot surface to the air traveling thereabout and provide an excellent conductor of heat, this being in direct contrast to many space heaters having combustion chambers lined with refractory material which absorbs heat and which, of course, thus has a lesser capacity for heat radiation than is possible with the complete sheet metal structure of the present invention.

The heater of the present invention, as described, is

well adapted to evenly heat large volumes of air in a rapid and expedient manner, with the residual heat lost when the heater is stopped amounting to approximately the amount of heat absorbed by the sheet metal walls, it being understood that this amount of heat is relatively small and insignificant so that the heater is exceptionally efficient in heating locations where the heater is frequently started and stopped.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A free standing floor model space heater intended for use in heating the surrounding air by coming in direct contact therewith, the heater comprising, in combination:

a rectangularly shaped box-like base member having a horizontal top surface and a horizontal bottom surface, the base member adapted to rest on the floor;

a pair of longitudinally extending angle iron members defining vertical standards each having one end affixed to the base member adjacent at opposite end thereof with the standards projecting vertically upwardly therefrom and terminating at the top end thereof;

an elongated hollow open end cylindrical combustion tube manufactured of sheet metal material which is rolled into a tubular cylindrical form, the combustion tube disposed horizontally above and adjacentmost to the top surface of the base, the tube having an inlet end and an outlet end;

a pair of elongated rod shaped wire members member mounting opposite endportion s ofthe combustion tube to the pair of standards to affixedly support the same thereon;

a combustion chamber portion defined at the open inlet end of said combustion tube at a disposition interiorly of said combustion tube;

a pair of identical elongated hollow open ended cylindrical first and second fire tubes each having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hollow passageway extending completely therethrough;

each of said first and second fire tubes manufactured of sheet metal material which is rolled into the tubular form of the fire tubes;

said first fire tube being disposed parallel to said combustion tube and of a slightly shorter length thereof and positioned vertically above and spaced from said combustion tube extending along said pair of vertical standards, said inlet end of said first tube disposed above said combustion tube outlet end with said first tube outlet end disposed above said combustion tube inlet end;

rod like wire members passing about opposite end portions of said first tube and mountingly affixing said first tube to said pair of standards in vertical alignment with said combustion tube;

said second fire tube being disposed in vertical alignment with said first fire tube and said combustion tube and positioned vertically above and spaced from said first fire tube along said pair of standards with said second fire tube inlet end disposed above first fire tube outlet end and with said second fire tube outlet end disposed above said first tube inlet end;

rod like wire members extending above opposite end portions of said second fire tube and mountingly affixing said second fire tube to said pair of standards with the axis of said seond fire tube extending parallel to the axis of said first fire tube and said combustion tube;

said conbustion tube, said first fire tube, and said second fire tube defining a vertical plane extending parallel to said pair of standards with each of said tubes being disposed directly above and spaced from the tube therebeneath to form an efficient and compact arrangement;

said combustion tube, said first fire tube, and said second fire tube each being of the same diameter and shape with each being manufactured of the same sheet metal material so that the first and second fire tubes are readily interchangeable with each other;

a pair of identical first and second hollow concavely curved sheet metal tubes each formed of a series of individual relatively movable segments to provide flexible sheet metal tubes in the form of flexible sheet metal elbow type structures;

said first flexible elbow tube interconnecting in an airtight manner said combustion tube outlet end with said first fire tube inlet end to direct air flow from said combustion tube through said interconnected first fire tube;

said second flexible elbow structure interconnecting said first fire tube outlet end with said second fire tube inlet end to direct air flow from said first fire tube through said second fire tube;

said first and second elbow structures each being of a hollow concave shape with each having a diameter equal to the diameter of the combustion tube, first fire tube, and second fire tube, with the elbows conducting the air flow between the interconnected tubes;

a ninety degree elbow formed of flexible sheet metal material defining a flexible tube having the same diameter of said first and second elbow structures and having one end forming an inlet end and connected in an airtight manner to said second fire tube outlet end, the opposite end of said ninety degree elbow defining an outlet end having its axis extending vertically upward parallel to said standards and normal to the axis of said second fire tube;

a gas diverter and draft control tubing having an inlet end connected in an airtight manner to said outlet end of said ninety degree elbow, the opposite end of said gas diverter and draft control adapted to be connected to a chimney to discharge air from the heater into the atmosphere exteriorly of the room in which the heater is placed;

an L-shaped brace having one end thereof affixed to the vertical standard adjacentmost the combustion tube inlet end with the brace projecting upwardly therefrom andterminating at a position forwardly of said inlet end;

a burner nozzle of an elongated cylindrical configuration having a fuel inlet port and a fuel discharge port, the nozzle being axially aligned with the inlet end of the combustion chamber with the discharge port thereof projecting into the combustion chamber concentric therewith;

an annular combustion air inlet passageway defined about said nozzle discharge port between the interior surfaces of the combustion chamber side wall surfaces and having communication with the combustion tube interior for the drawing of fresh air into the combustion tube about the discharge port of the nozzle;

a manually operable control valve having one end connected to said burner nozzle inlet port with the opposite end thereof connected to a source of burnable fuel, such as natural gas and the like, the valve operable to manually control the quantity and volume of the fuel flowing therethough between a completely on position and a completely combustion chamber with said heated air passing through said combustion tube, through interconnected said first and second fire tubes, and out of said gas diverter and draft control in a manner to directly heat the tubes and associated elbows to provide a direct heating effect on the air flowing about the exterior surfaces of such tubes to provide a source of heat to the room in which the heater is placed. 

1. A free standing floor model space heater intended for use in heating the surrounding air by coming in direct contact therewith, the heater comprising, in combination: a rectangularly shaped box-like base member having a horizontal top surface and a horizontal bottom surface, the base member adapted to rest on the floor; a pair of longitudinally extending angle iron members defining vertical standards each having one end affixed to the base member adjacent at opposite end thereof with the standards projecting vertically upwardly therefrom and terminating at the top end thereof; an elongated hollow open end cylindrical combustion tube manufactured of sheet metal material which is rolled into a tubular cylindrical form, the combustion tube disposed horizontally above and adjacentmost to the top surface of the base, the tube having an inlet end and an outlet end; A pair of elongated rod shaped wire members member mounting opposite end portions of the combustion tube to the pair of standards to affixedly support the same thereon; a combustion chamber portion defined at the open inlet end of said combustion tube at a disposition interiorly of said combustion tube; a pair of identical elongated hollow open ended cylindrical first and second fire tubes each having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hollow passageway extending completely theRethrough; each of said first and second fire tubes manufactured of sheet metal material which is rolled into the tubular form of the fire tubes; said first fire tube being disposed parallel to said combustion tube and of a slightly shorter length thereof and positioned vertically above and spaced from said combustion tube extending along said pair of vertical standards, said inlet end of said first tube disposed above said combustion tube outlet end with said first tube outlet end disposed above said combustion tube inlet end; rod like wire members passing about opposite end portions of said first tube and mountingly affixing said first tube to said pair of standards in vertical alignment with said combustion tube; said second fire tube being disposed in vertical alignment with said first fire tube and said combustion tube and positioned vertically above and spaced from said first fire tube along said pair of standards with said second fire tube inlet end disposed above first fire tube outlet end and with said second fire tube outlet end disposed above said first tube inlet end; rod like wire members extending above opposite end portions of said second fire tube and mountingly affixing said second fire tube to said pair of standards with the axis of said seond fire tube extending parallel to the axis of said first fire tube and said combustion tube; said conbustion tube, said first fire tube, and said second fire tube defining a vertical plane extending parallel to said pair of standards with each of said tubes being disposed directly above and spaced from the tube therebeneath to form an efficient and compact arrangement; said combustion tube, said first fire tube, and said second fire tube each being of the same diameter and shape with each being manufactured of the same sheet metal material so that the first and second fire tubes are readily interchangeable with each other; a pair of identical first and second hollow concavely curved sheet metal tubes each formed of a series of individual relatively movable segments to provide flexible sheet metal tubes in the form of flexible sheet metal elbow type structures; said first flexible elbow tube interconnecting in an airtight manner said combustion tube outlet end with said first fire tube inlet end to direct air flow from said combustion tube through said interconnected first fire tube; said second flexible elbow structure interconnecting said first fire tube outlet end with said second fire tube inlet end to direct air flow from said first fire tube through said second fire tube; said first and second elbow structures each being of a hollow concave shape with each having a diameter equal to the diameter of the combustion tube, first fire tube, and second fire tube, with the elbows conducting the air flow between the interconnected tubes; a ninety degree elbow formed of flexible sheet metal material defining a flexible tube having the same diameter of said first and second elbow structures and having one end forming an inlet end and connected in an airtight manner to said second fire tube outlet end, the opposite end of said ninety degree elbow defining an outlet end having its axis extending vertically upward parallel to said standards and normal to the axis of said second fire tube; a gas diverter and draft control tubing having an inlet end connected in an airtight manner to said outlet end of said ninety degree elbow, the opposite end of said gas diverter and draft control adapted to be connected to a chimney to discharge air from the heater into the atmosphere exteriorly of the room in which the heater is placed; an L-shaped brace having one end thereof affixed to the vertical standard adjacentmost the combustion tube inlet end with the brace projecting upwardly therefrom and terminating at a position forwardly of said inlet end; a burner nozzle of an elongated cylindrical configuration having a fuel inlet port and a fuel discharge port, the nOzzle being axially aligned with the inlet end of the combustion chamber with the discharge port thereof projecting into the combustion chamber concentric therewith; an annular combustion air inlet passageway defined about said nozzle discharge port between the interior surfaces of the combustion chamber side wall surfaces and having communication with the combustion tube interior for the drawing of fresh air into the combustion tube about the discharge port of the nozzle; a manually operable control valve having one end connected to said burner nozzle inlet port with the opposite end thereof connected to a source of burnable fuel, such as natural gas and the like, the valve operable to manually control the quantity and volume of the fuel flowing therethough between a completely ''''on'''' position and a completely ''''off'''' position, and to any selected position therebetween for accurate control of the fuel flow therethrough; said burner nozzle and said control valve being mountedly attached to said supporting bracket; and said fuel being injected through said control valve and through said burner nozzle inlet port to said nozzle discharge port to be injected into said combustion chamber and ignited therein to heat the combustion chamber with said heated air passing through said combustion tube, through interconnected said first and second fire tubes, and out of said gas diverter and draft control in a manner to directly heat the tubes and associated elbows to provide a direct heating effect on the air flowing about the exterior surfaces of such tubes to provide a source of heat to the room in which the heater is placed. 